July 1 marks achievement of Minimum Wage Commitment
The provincial government announced today that effective Thursday, the provincial minimum wage will increase by 50 cents to $10 per hour - an increase that represents the final step of its 2007 Blueprint commitment of achieving a minimum wage of $10 per hour by 2010.
"This increase is another way the Williams Government is improving the quality of life of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and making our province more competitive with respect to attracting talent," said Susan Sullivan, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment.
"With this 50 cent increase, Newfoundland and Labrador will have the second highest provincial minimum wage in the country, behind Ontario."
The current series of increases began on Jan. 1, 2009, with minimum wage increasing by 50 cent increments every six months. This approach to carrying out the increases balanced the desire to raise the minimum wage with employers' ability to prepare for the increases.
As of July 1, the minimum wage will have increased by approximately 67 per cent over a five-year period.
The news release notes that minimum wage increases are complementary to the provincial government's efforts to reduce poverty in Newfoundland and Labrador. Through the Poverty Reduction Strategy, government says it is working towards transforming Newfoundland and Labrador from being a province with one of the highest poverty rates in Canada to being the one with the lowest.
"Increases to the minimum wage rate play a key role in advancing our government's Poverty Reduction Strategy," Sullivan said. "Increasing the minimum wage helps individuals and families achieve increased self-reliance and contributes to a stronger provincial economy. Reducing poverty aims to balance opportunity for all."
Minimum wage increase complements poverty reduction strategy: minister
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Published on
June 30, 2010
- Published on July 20, 2010
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Staff ~ The Telegram
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Comments
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- flash
- - July 20, 2010 at 14:32:58
Small business will be affected, theyre the ones who have to match everything else that the goverment makes money off. example payroll tax
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- just
- - July 20, 2010 at 14:32:41
Wouldn't it be great to see local small businesses uniting under one big roof to compete with big box stores from other countries and get lots of tax breaks to help them do that, but this is Newfoundland, not dreamland.
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- Geoff
- - July 20, 2010 at 14:32:40
Local businesses can survive based on good relationships and a quality product. If I can shop at a local store that showed they wanted my business, worked a little to get me through the door, I'll shop there. Price is secondary to great servive and personable relationships. Small businesses need to think outside the box, reach out and touch your target market. Offer your services to other local business, many things can be done if the effort to put into it. You'd be suprised how many people prefer a personable Cheers type atmoshpere over watching Falling Prices
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